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If you’ve ever tried to plan a wedding, you know just how expensive they are. Venues alone can run up to $10,000 for just a few hours. And then you have to think about food, wedding outfits, and the music.
According to Forbes, the average cost for a wedding in 2024 is $33,000. This is the price of a car! You don’t have to spend a lot on your wedding to make it special. There are countless creative ways to save money on your wedding without sacrificing the beauty or joy of the day.
There are many ways you can save money on your wedding day. To curate this list, we chose easy and simple tips and tricks. These are simple enough that they won’t bring you extra stress, but effective enough to make a real difference in your budget. Whether you’re cutting costs on the venue, food, or decor, these ideas will help you save money on your wedding while still creating a memorable celebration.
Planning ahead and being strategic can help you save money on your wedding and start your marriage without financial stress.
Here, we have 15 ingenious ways to save money on your wedding.
1. Elope
You can still have a wedding when you Elope. I’m biased. I eloped with my husband in 2021. We got married in a cheap dress and suit in City Park, New Orleans, for less than $400, including photos!
Eloping can give you and your partner an intimate ceremony without all the fuss and expenses.
2. Trim Your Guest List
Not everyone feels comfortable eloping. For some people, weddings are important, and they want to be surrounded by loved ones. If this is you, trim your guest lists.
Instead of inviting 200 people, invite 100 to 150. Important people in your life should witness your special day. Not all coworkers or past family friends need to go.
3. Court Wedding
Another way to save money on your wedding is to have it at the court. Court weddings are fast, cheap, and efficient. If you want to capture more memorable moments, you can dress up and hire a photographer.
4. Backyard Wedding
Do you have a family member with a big backyard? Some of the sweetest and most beautiful weddings I’ve attended were held in backyards.
This is a great way to save money on your special day. However, some hidden costs include seats, tables, and food. Still, backyard weddings are less expensive than large weddings at a venue.
5. Thrift Your Wedding Outfits
A wedding dress and suit don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Instead of buying a designer dress from a large store, thrift. Lots of people donate their wedding dresses.
I looked for months and found a stunning princess-style dress for less than $200.
6. Potluck Wedding
Food is an expensive part of weddings. If you invite 200 guests, you have to figure out how to feed them. Instead of hiring a catering company, you can host a potluck wedding.
Get married outside or in your home with your closest family and friends, with a potluck. Let everyone bring their favorite foods.
7. DIY Decorations
DIY is a tricky tip. Not all DIY decorations are inexpensive, and you have to consider the time and cost of the materials. Do some research before diving into DIY decorations.
Still, there are plenty of ways you can decorate on a budget. Dollar and discount stores are great places to find art supplies and decor.
8. Digital Invitations and Thank You Cards
Are you still looking for ways to reduce the cost of your wedding? Another excellent way to save money is to send virtual invitations and thank you cards. Generally, this is free.
It saves you both time and money, as brides and grooms can spend hours signing and sending thank-you notes.
9. Choose an Outdoor Inexpensive/Free Wedding Venue
Venues are expensive to rent and rarely include food, decorations, or other extras. So, instead of renting an expensive venue, try a city, state, or local park.
Community centers also have venue spaces for free or at a tiny cost.
10. Buy Local In-season Flowers
Flowers are a significant but quiet part of weddings. Many people forget about flowers when planning their big days. To save costs on these beautiful decorations, you can purchase local in-season flowers.
11. Rent Wedding Attire
Wedding dresses and suits are rarely worn twice. I only wore my wedding dress once and soon after donated it to another bride-to-be. Instead of thrifting or buying a new dress, consider renting.
12. Hire a Local Photographer
Who doesn’t want pictures on their big day? Instead of finding an out-of-state or country photographer, stick to local photographers. This way, you don’t have to pay hefty travel fees.
13. Skip Saturdays
Saturdays are convenient for most people. For those who work Monday through Friday, weekends are the easiest. However, they are also some of the more expensive days to host a wedding.
If possible, consider getting married on a weekday to make it cheaper. Whoever can come, will.
14. BYOB
Alcohol adds up. On your wedding day, you can choose to provide, allow, or omit alcohol. Host a sober wedding or a BYOB (bring your own beer) to save money.
15. Limit the Bar Drinks
BYOB weddings aren’t appetizing to many. If this isn’t your cup of tea, consider limiting drinks at a wedding bar. You can do this by implementing a ticket system.
Every person over 21 at your wedding can receive three tickets to exchange for drinks.
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